ds20 v73 fw relnote

This document serves as the Release Notes for the AlphaServer DS20 V7.3 Firmware, dated April 2007. It is intended for individuals responsible for operating system installations, upgrades, and firmware updates.

Key points include:

1. Scope and Audience: The document outlines significant changes in the firmware release, describes methods to update console and I/O options firmware, and is aimed at system administrators and technicians.
2. Firmware Update Guidance:
   • Firmware should always be updated before installing or updating an operating system.
   • Both SRM (used for Tru64 Unix and OpenVMS) and AlphaBIOS (used for Windows NT) consoles need updating for compatibility.
   • Users are warned against installing firmware older than what is currently installed.
   • A system reset or re-initialization is required after OS shutdown and before running the update utility.
   • Detailed procedures are provided for updating firmware from both SRM and AlphaBIOS consoles using the Loadable Firmware Utility (LFU).
3. V7.3 Specific Changes & Information:
   • Console Changes: Fixes a Kgpsa driver login issue with Brocade Fibre Channel switches and increases the number of WWIDx (8) and Nx (16) console environmental variables for Fibre Channel storage boot/crash dumps.
   • Versions: SRM Version V7.3-1 and AlphaBIOS Version V5.71 are the latest.
   • Minimum OS Revisions: Requires OpenVMS V7.1-2 + patches, Tru64 Unix V4.0F, and Windows NT V4.0.
   • Known Anomalies/Restrictions: Bootable DVDs are not universally supported, KVM console switch limitations for run bios in graphics mode, specific steps for halting OpenVMS with Oxygen VX1 graphics cards, and a prerequisite of HAL Revision G before installing AlphaBIOS V5.70.
4. Using FFAUTO and FFNEXT: This section explains how to use these console environment variables to force "not connected" devices to a "connected" state, making them bootable.
   • FFAUTO (non-volatile) is for autobooting, changing the state of "not connected" devices in bootdef_dev.
   • FFNEXT (volatile, one-shot) changes the state of the next "not connected" device accessed by a command.
5. Firmware Change History: A detailed log of enhancements, I/O option firmware updates, and bug fixes for previous versions (V7.2, V7.1, V7.0, V6.9, V6.8, V6.7). These include improvements to SCSI and Fibre Channel support, new environment variables, ATM adapter recognition, and various driver and system stability fixes.